Best of the Mamas & the Papas: 20th Century Masters

by The Mamas & the Papas

Overview

Like any record company worth their salt, MCA knows a good gimmick when they see it, and when the millennium came around -- well, the 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection wasn't too far behind. Supposedly, the millennium is a momentous occasion, but it's hard to feel that way when it's used as another excuse to turn out a budget-line series. But apart from the presumptuous title, 20th Century Masters -- The Millennium Collection turns out to be a very good budget-line series. True, it's impossible for any of these brief collections to be definitive, but they're nevertheless solid samplers that don't feature a bad song in the bunch. For example, take the Mamas & the Papas' 20th Century volume -- it's an irresistible 11-song summary of their MCA recordings. There may be a couple of noteworthy songs missing, but many of their best-known songs for the label are here, including "California Dreamin'," "Monday, Monday," "Creeque Alley," "Dedicated to the One I Love." "Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon," "Look Through My Window," "I Saw Her Again Last Night," and Mama Cass' "Make Your Own Kind of Music." Serious fans will want something more extensive, but this is an excellent introduction for neophytes and a great sampler for casual fans, considering its length and price. That doesn't erase the ridiculousness of the series title, but the silliness is excusable when the music and the collections are good. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/23/1999
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008811194529
Rank:	15940

Tracks

1. California Dreamin'
2. Monday, Monday
3. Creeque Alley
4. Dedicated to the One I Love
5. Twelve-Thirty (Young Girls Are Coming to the Canyon)
6. Words of Love
7. Look Through My Window
8. I Saw Her Again
9. Dancing Bear
10. Make Your Own Kind of Music
11. Dream a Little Dream of Me

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Mamas & the Papas   Primary Artist
David McCallum   Primary Artist
Mama Cass   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Andy McKaie   Compilation Producer,Producer
Michelle Phillips   Composer
Mama Cass   Performer
Jim Marshall   Photography
Theresa Malham   Editing,Assembly
Dennis Doherty   Composer
Barry Mann   Composer
Gus Kahn   Composer
Steve Barri   Producer
Ralph Bass   Composer
David McCallum   Performer
Lowman Pauling   Composer
John Phillips   Composer
Lou Adler   Producer
Wilbur Schwandt   Composer
Denny Doherty   Composer
Erick Labson   Remastering,Remixing
Fabian Andre   Composer
Cynthia Weil   Composer
Ken Welch   Composer
Vartan   Art Direction
Mike Fink   Design